Curbishley blames West Ham owners for his resignation as manager
Alan Curbishley has resigned his post as manager of West Ham United after 71 games in charge, blaming a “breach of trust and confidence” with the club’s owners for his departure.
Managers usually resign or are forced to resign when their teams are not living up to expectations. However, that’s not the case here. Although it’s still early in the season, West Ham is in 5th place, having taken six points out of nine and advancing to the 3rd round of the Carling Cup.
Curbishley’s decision to quit was triggered by the departures of Anton Ferdinand, a promising young center back, and George McCartney, who started every league game last season for West Ham at left back, to Sunderland just before the transfer deadline. He had wanted to keep both defenders but West Ham owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson and his board allowed the sales to go through. Curbishley responded by handing in his resignation on Wednesday.
In a statement released via the League Managers’ Association (LMA), he insisted his position was made untenable by the breach of trust.
“I started my West Ham United career when I left school in 1974 and have remained a lifelong fan,” he said. “I have been incredibly proud to manage such a great club and my decision to resign has been very tough.
“The selection of players is critical to the job of the manager and I had an agreement with the club that I alone would determine the composition of the squad.
“However, the club continued to make significant player decisions without involving me. In the end such a breach of trust and confidence meant that I had no option but to leave.
“Nevertheless, I wish the club and the players every success in the future.”
Curbishley became manager of the club in December 2006, several months after leaving his long-time job at Charlton Athletic. During his time as manager, he lead West Ham out of relegation in the 2006/07 season with wins in seven of the team’s last nine Premier League matches, and finished tenth in the league the following season.
West Ham’s next league match is September 13th against West Bromwich Albion.
Who is getting Curbishley’s job?
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic, a former West Ham player, is the early favourite to replace Curbishley. Former boss Harry Redknapp has recently been linked with a return to Upton Park. Other names also said to be in the frame this afternoon include former Chelsea boss Avram Grant and ex-Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini.
William Hill offers tempting odds for Curbishley’s job.
S Bilic 3/1, H Redknapp 6/1, S Allardyce 8/1, S Pearce 10/1, L Van Gaal 12/1, G Hoddle 12/1, R Martinez 12/1, G Poyet 12/1, T Venables 14/1, P Di Canio 14/1, R Mancini 14/1, D Moyes 14/1, R Gullit 14/1.